Human remains found in house of New York gunman

New York: US Police have found "human remains" in the torched home of a New York man, who shot dead two firefighters on Christmas eve before dying of a self-inflicted gun shot wound. Police suspect that the "human remains" are of his sister with whom he shared a bitter relationship.

Sixty-two-year-old William Spengler - who left a chilling note in which he described his intent to burn down more houses and "do what I like doing best, killing people" - had set his house and car on fire in Webster on Monday, setting a trap for the firefighters. He lay in wait as first responders arrived

Police suspect the "human remains" are of his sister with whom 62-year-old William Spengler shared a bitter relationship.

Spengler, a convicted felon, was armed with three different weapons, including a Bushmaster rifle, and immediately started firing upon the first responders, police said. He killed two firefighters and injured as many before killing himself just as police closed in on him.

Webster police chief Gerald Pickering told reporters on Tuesday that Spengler had set up an ambush for the firefighters by burning his car and home. Police also found a three-page typewritten note, in which he talks about his plan to unleash mayhem in his neighbourhood.

"I still have to get ready to see how much of the neighbourhood I can burn down and do what I like doing best killing people," Spengler wrote in the note. Police did not disclose the full content of the note but said it did not contain the motive behind Spengler's assault on the firefighters.

Pickering said Spengler "was equipped to go to war and kill innocent people". "I'm not sure we'll never really know what was going through his mind," he said. Police also disclosed that "human remains" were found in the home of Spengler and suspect that they are those of his sister Cheryl Spengler, 67, who had been living with him but was "unaccounted for" since the day of Spengler's crime.

Pickering did not give more details of Spengler's sister and said the matter was still under investigation. Monroe County medical examiner's office also declined to comment on the identification of the remains or the cause of death.